Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants must attach a cover letter and a resume in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Wiess School of Natural Sciences is seeking a Manager of Finance to coordinate and manage the day-to day financial operations of the school. This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely entry, submission, review, and execution of financial transactions and for supervising the Dean’s Office finance specialist staff. While this position provides operational oversight and financial management and guidance, final budgetary and strategic financial decision rest with senior leadership. This position will play a key supporting role in the development and management of both the school’s annual and long-term budget plans, working in close collaboration with senior leadership and departmental staff to ensure alignment with institutional goals and priorities.
The Manager of Finance provides oversight for the financial operations of the school, including university, gift, endowment, and research funds. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monitoring expenditures, submitting and verifying balances and cost transfers, producing various financial reports, and direct or indirect management of various fiscal processes; ensuring compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
The Manager also collaborates on financial planning initiatives and contributes to forecasting, reporting, and analysis to support strategic decision-making. Additionally, the position manages special projects with school-wide financial implications and maintains the school’s internal accounting system, ensuring alignment with university systems such as iO.

WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS

On-campus position: This role is primarily on-site, with duties performed in person at GRB 100E Dean’s Suite on the Rice University campus. However, one remote workday per week may be permitted, subject to departmental needs and supervisor approval. Per Rice Policy 440 , work arrangements are subject to change.
Hiring Range: The hiring salary range for this exempt (salaried) position is $106,488 to $112,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 4+ years of related experience .
• In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted.

SKILLS:

• Proficiency in financial reporting, forecasting, and data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply university financial policies, procedures, and compliance requirements
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, and familiarity with other business support resources
• Strong analytical mindset with proven ability in critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving.In-depth understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
• Excellent knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively through verbal, written, and visual formats.
• Proven ability to work well with people from diverse backgrounds, skills levels, and to build effective cross-functional teams through collaboration.

• Works closely with the Assistant Dean of Business Operations to develop and manage the school budget
• Performs analytical, finance, and control functions; multi-dimensional reconciliations and related analyses; prepares, reviews, and approves transactions and higher-level dollar value transactions
• Monitors financial transactions for the Dean’s office and the departments.
• Creates and submits financial transactions for the Dean’s office and when needed for the departments.
• Reviews and approves expense reports, balance transfers, and cost transfers.
• Confirms that transactions for the Dean’s office and the academic departments and programs post correctly.
• Develops budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
• Runs monthly financial reports for the school and academic departments, identifies errors, and takes action to correct errors.
• Recommends and develops solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintains a broader organizational and university perspective in decision-making
• Works closely with school departments, centers, and programs
• Engages in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls
• Defines requirements, develops and implements complex test cases, performs testing and analyzes results
• Collaborates with leadership and supports the unit and organization strategy and change management initiatives
• Represents the organization to client groups and external partners; serves as a subject matter expert on matters that involve complex technical, financial, or other subject matter expertise
• Assesses client and business needs and formulates recommendations to determine approaches to managing and completing processes
• Serves as approval for expenditures and transactions, ensuring compliance with university policies and procedures as well as specific guidelines on restricted funds
• Develops and maintains procedures, policies, and systems for the finance administrative area.
• Performs other duties as assigned